2,081. Bleeding Before Childbirth

Hilchos Issurei Biah 7:1

Let’s say that a pregnant woman feels pain, goes into labor and experiences a flow of blood before giving birth. That bleeding is labor blood; if it comes during her niddah days, it is considered niddah blood and she is ritually unclean as a niddah, while if it comes during her zivah days, she is ritually clean. This is because Leviticus 15:19 tells us, “a flow of blood within her flesh.” According to our oral tradition, she’s only a niddah when the blood comes from her and not because of childbirth. This is only when she has a live birth; if a woman has a miscarriage, labor blood doesn’t apply. Even if this blood were to flow with contractions and pain for two weeks before she delivers, it is still considered labor blood and she is ritually clean. However, if bleeding began 15 days or more before she delivers, then it is considered zivah blood and the rules of a woman who gives birth while a zavah apply.

Hilchos Issurei Biah 7:2

The above applies when the contractions and pain didn’t stop, but rather she was in labor continuously until giving birth. However, if she saw bleeding for three days or more during her zivah days alongside pain and contractions but the pain stopped and the contractions subsided after three days so that she is comfortable for 24 hours or more, then she is a zavah. This is because if the blood was coming because of the labor, the pain and contractions wouldn’t have stopped. If she later gives birth, the laws of a woman who gives birth as a zavah apply.